Department for Education

Schools: Standards

lord touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the use of school league tables.

baroness berridge: The department has no plans to carry out a formal review of the use of school performance tables. The department continually monitors the way the educational performance data we publish is used by parents, schools and those working with schools, such as academy trusts and local authorities.On 20 March 2020, the government announced that it will not publish any school or college level educational performance data based on tests, assessments or exams for 2020. This follows the government’s decision to cancel the summer 2020 exam series, including GCSEs, A-levels, and other qualifications, and all primary assessments, as we fight to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Cabinet Office

National Security

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they use to determine whether another nation state (1) is conducting, or (2) is guilty of, an act of hostility towards the UK.

lord true: Hostile activity can take many forms, including disinformation, cyber attacks and other hybrid methods. We know that certain states routinely use these as foreign policy tools.It is absolutely unacceptable for any foreign government to seek to undermine the UK’s national security, the integrity of our democracy, public safety, reputation or economic prosperity. The government remains committed to securing the UK against all forms of hostile activity orchestrated by foreign states.HM Government has acted to protect the UK and respond to the threat, including taking steps as part of the Defending Democracy programme, and through the creation of the National Cyber Security Centre and Joint State Threats Assessment Team. This approach allows us to identify, assess and, where necessary, respond to hostile activity; as can be seen from HM Government's response to the Salisbury novichok poisoning and the public attribution of the WannaCry, NotPetya and Cloudhopper cyber incidents.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Supermarkets: Coronavirus

baroness valentine: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice has been given to food retailers operating supermarkets in the UK about those who wish to make bulk purchases for local foodbanks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government has well-established ways of working with the food industry during disruption to supply situations. Our retailers already have highly resilient supply chains and they are working around the clock to ensure people have the food and products they need. We welcome the efforts of industry to support food banks and front-line charities through donations of food and funds. Additionally, the Government has announced a £3 million fund for food redistribution organisations to prevent good food going to waste. We are working closely with food banks and food aid charities to understand the impacts the outbreak is having on their operations, to ensure that those who are financially vulnerable have access to essential supplies. The Government has begun to deliver food parcels to those identified by the NHS as being extremely clinically vulnerable. We are working quickly to support people who do not fall into the category of being clinically vulnerable, but still need help getting essential food supplies. This could include those who are elderly, disabled or who have health conditions that make it difficult for them to get the food they need. As stock on shelves begin to replenish many supermarkets have now begun to lift buying restrictions on products to help people shop for others.